Therapy for Children
Silver Spring

When parents call about their child, they often describe feeling stuck between wanting to help and not knowing how. Maybe your child’s anxiety has started affecting school attendance, their ADHD symptoms are overwhelming the family, or behavioral challenges are straining relationships at home and school.

Children express their inner world differently than adults – through play, behavior, and sometimes in ways that seem confusing or concerning. What looks like defiance might be anxiety. What appears to be laziness could be learning differences. We help families understand what’s really happening beneath the surface while developing effective strategies that work for your whole family.

Anxiety That Interferes with Daily Life
Many children today struggle with anxiety that goes far beyond normal childhood worries. School refusal, separation anxiety, social fears, and perfectionism can dominate a child’s experience and create significant family stress. Rather than simply removing anxiety triggers, we help children develop the courage and skills to face challenges while teaching parents how to support without accidentally reinforcing anxious behaviors. For parents specifically looking for evidence-based support in helping their anxious child, we offer S.P.A.C.E., a Yale-developed program that empowers parents to help their children build resilience.

ADHD and Executive Function Struggles
Children with ADHD often face more than attention challenges – they may struggle with organization, emotional regulation, and social interactions. While technology-based interventions and various treatments are available, research shows mixed results for many newer approaches. We focus on evidence-based strategies that help children develop practical skills while supporting families in creating environments that work for everyone.

School-Related Problems
Academic struggles, behavioral issues at school, and conflicts with teachers or peers can create cascading problems for children and families. Sometimes school problems reflect underlying learning differences, anxiety, or social challenges that need to be addressed directly rather than just managed through accommodations.

Behavioral Challenges That Strain Relationships
Acting out, tantrums, defiance, and aggression often signal that children are struggling with something they can’t yet articulate. These behaviors typically serve a purpose – seeking attention, avoiding difficulty, or expressing frustration – and respond better to understanding and skill-building than to punishment alone.

Social and Emotional Development Difficulties
Some children struggle to make friends, manage emotions, or navigate social situations successfully. These challenges can impact self-esteem and lead to isolation or behavioral problems. We help children develop social skills while addressing underlying factors that may be contributing to their difficulties.

We Use Play Therapy Because Children Communicate Through Play
Children learn and make sense of their world through play. In play therapy, their inner thoughts emerge as patterns that can be understood and interpreted. We use play as the primary language for connecting with children and helping them process experiences, develop coping skills, and build confidence.

We Address the Whole System, Not Just the Child
Children don’t exist in isolation – they’re part of family, school, and community systems. We work closely with parents to understand family dynamics and develop consistent approaches at home. We also collaborate with schools when appropriate to ensure children receive coordinated support across all environments.

We Build on Children’s Strengths While Addressing Challenges
Every child has unique strengths and capabilities. We identify what your child does well and use these strengths as a foundation for growth. Rather than focusing only on problems, we help children develop confidence in their abilities while building skills in areas where they struggle.

We Use Evidence-Based Approaches Tailored to Each Child
Our therapists integrate play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and family-based interventions depending on what each child needs most. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all approaches – instead, we adapt our methods to match your child’s developmental stage, personality, and specific challenges.

We Teach Parents How to Support Their Child’s Growth
Parents are children’s most important advocates and supports. We provide practical guidance on how to respond to challenging behaviors, support your child’s emotional development, and create home environments that promote healthy growth. Sometimes this means learning new approaches to discipline, communication, or daily routines. For parents of anxious children specifically, our S.P.A.C.E. program offers evidence-based parent support to help you learn how to reduce anxiety-reinforcing accommodations while supporting your child’s courage and independence.

We Don’t Avoid Difficult Realities
While we believe in protecting children from harm, we also know that facing appropriate challenges helps children develop resilience. We help families find the balance between support and challenge, ensuring children develop the confidence to handle life’s inevitable difficulties.

Your Investment Supports Our Mission
When you choose Kingsbury for your child, you’re contributing to our commitment to making quality mental health care accessible to all families. Our nonprofit model ensures that families who can afford our services help us provide the same care to children whose families cannot.

Director of Psychotherapy and Clinical Training

• Location: Silver Spring, MD
• Virtual therapy available in participating PsyPact states
• Insurance: Out-of-network provider (we provide documentation for reimbursement)
• Session length: 45 minutes
• Frequency: Typically weekly
• Parent involvement: Integral part of treatment for children